John Guidetti’s last gasp volley rescued a late draw for Celtic as they played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter at Parkhead in the Europa League.
The Swede certainly saved the blushes of his goalkeeper Craig Gordon who was at fault twice in the first half for goals for Xherdan Shaqiri and Rodrigo Palacio (one of two he managed in the opening 45 minutes) but goals from Stuart Armstrong and Hugo Campagnaro turning into his own net had the Hoops temporarily level before Guidetti struck superbly at the death to give his side hope when they head to Italy.
The game was just five minutes old when the unfortunate home goalkeeper made a stop at his near post to save from Shaqiri (although the ball was going wide) but failed to parry the ball behind the line and it fell back to the feet of the Swiss attacker who calmly drilled home.
With the home side suffering from early nerves, the Nerazzurri took full advantage to double their lead in the Glasgow rain – a poor corner kick eventually finding its way back into the box via a deflection to Palacio and he calmly stroked the ball to the net just eight minutes after the first.
But the Bhoys regrouped well and midway through the half, hit the visitors with a stunning double salvo that left Roberto Mancini’s men dazed.
Adam Matthews spearheaded the charge, flying down the right to the byline before cutting the ball back calmly for Armstrong who got there ahead of Fredy Guarin to tuck the ball to the back of the net.
Their January signing may try to claim the second but 60 seconds later, when Stefan Johansen hooked the ball to the box, it was clear that Campagnaro was the man who prodded it past his own goalkeeper.
Leigh Griffiths blasted a free kick over the top and Nir Bitton headed wide for a much improved Hoops but it was an error from their goalkeeper once again moments before the half time whistle which handed Inter the initiative once again.
A long hopeful ball forward skidded off the turf as Palacio tried to get there, but Gordon beat him to it before inexplicably letting it fall from his grasp and leaving the Argentine hitman with the simplest of finishes.
Shaqiri was continually dangerous in the second half, forcing a good save from Gordon, who left the field at the end of the 45 minutes with the crowd singing his name, to keep out his curling effort.
Celtic then probed with Bitton testing Carrizo with a bouncing effort from 35 yards and the former Lazio man was called upon to make a solid point blank stop from Griffiths after Johansen knocked into his path, the striker perhaps unable to believe he wasn’t flagged despite being in an offside position.
Gordon looked much improved in making some saves throughout the half he would be expected to make, a Shaqiri free kick and a Palacio curler when Inter broke with pace, as well as a low Fredy Guarin free kick from distance all being dealt with comfortably.
Liam Henderson missed a good opportunity for the hosts when being sprung from the bench and stealing in at the back post but could only volley straight at Carrizo as it looked like Ronny Deila’s side would head to San Siro trailing.
That was until, in injury time, Henderson sent a delightful chip over the defence into the box for Guidetti who calmly chested down and unleashed a deft left footed volley into the far corner to send the home support into raptures and end his goal drought in some style.
